The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-03-19

~ ''ciiH ~ INC ildb, Simple dS all UnlS ls,
many phianthropists would have made a
different disposition Of their property if
they had fully understood it. Too fire.
! qnently we see men shaping their con-
duet as If the laboring class could be
benefited by lifting men out of it. Con-
sequently we see inducements offered to
men To iorsake the occupations of the
artisan and mechanic and become prea-
cheers, doctors aud independent business
men. Every newspaper helps to ill the
minds OF youth with the idea that they
ought to become great bankers, manu-.
lecturers or railway presidents, if not
presidents Of the United States. This
they are brought to think is what it
means to rise III life" Then, after fill
ing the mind of the average boy with
dreams of unattainable wealth. these
same newspapers are astonished to see
him turn away i'll aversion from humble
but honorable toll. The doors should be
thrown open as widely as possible, and
every endeavor should be made to give
genuine superiority All opportunity to
tind position high up on the social
ladder. But let no one imagine that hs
has conferred a direct benefit on the
masses by lifting those born among them
above their fellows. The direct effect of
removal of the best talent from among
the masses is an injury and not benefit.
If people could have more fully grasped
the idea that the vast ma jority must ever
be found III the workin classes S, SO called,
there would have been a more earnest
endeavor to render their lot a happier one.
Inc kind of phllanthrophy we need is
one which will render the life of the Or
binary child, the ordinary man and the
ordinary woman both "a happier and a
better iile-a more wholesome life than
II is apt to be to day. This is why | OBJ
serve with such delight the practical
workings of the Enoch Pratt Free Lii
brary. MIR. Pratt, as l understand it,
did not desire to make merchant princes
out of carpenters or backsmitbs-which
NIGH perhaps do them more harm than
good, even II 1t could be accomplished
but he did wish to render the lite OF the
people OF tins city, regardless of occupa-
ton, richer and fuller, and this he has
accomplished. Consequently ! should
place Mr.. Pratt's beueiaction second to
none of the Institutions with wrich phil
anthropIsts have blessed our favored city.
What Improvement in the lot of the
great mass of mankind is possible? 1t
would seem that there is no reason why
any member of civilized community
should be excluded from participation in
all the blessings of civilization which he
can enjoy. To render these blessings
accessible to all rather than to mako
fe" rich or distinguished is the office of
philanthrophy, and it is the duty of pub
TIC policy to encourage wide diffusion
of the free gifts Of nature and of the rich
acquisitions handed down to us by past
generations. What are the real wants of
men as distinguished from their ticti-
tious wants
First, there is religious culture, which
should be offered by our churches to all
freely, rich and poor alike. The full
duty OF the churches will never be done
SO long as church privileges are sold for
money. without money and without
price" should be the motto of every
Christian church in rendering it's privi-
leges. AS take it, a gift of the largest
possible sum, "a hundred thousand dol
lars year, if you please, entities one to
no privileges whatever nor does inability
to contribute dollar year work for
feiture of any privileges in the house of
God
Ethical culture must come chiefly
Though religion, but not wholly. 1t
should not be separated from schools of
any grade, and should be supplied by
healthful literature. \ wholesome en-
vironment is great aid to ethical cul-
ture. 1t is difficult to attain high plain
OF lie in the atmosphere of the slums Of
our great cities. But these are blots on
our civilization. and can and should be
abolished. The goou work has already
been begun i'll many quarters, and it will
never cease until it is complete. Here
also is an opportunity where public au-
thorlty and private philanthropy can
find field. 1t is not necessary to make
gilt in this case; it is not even desira-
Bile. Good, comfortable houses can be
built for the laborng classes by assocla-
tions aud rented So as to yield at least
four per centum net on the investment
ge ltleman i'll Brook Ign, who has done
good work in providing houses for the
poor receives six per centum net. En-
glish ladies and few American ladies'
have done "a grand work in this field,
many OF them collecting the rents so as
to form connection with the tenants
and to benefit them by their friendship.
Miss Octavia Hill is especially known on
this account, and more about her work
can be read in the article on Work ling
mems House in Harper's Monthly for
April, 1884. A walk through our alleys
will show that this work is needed in
Baltimore.
Intellectual culture is also a right of
every human being, and our age for the
first time in the worlds history is rem
dering 1t accessible to all. This must be
done by public authority, by CO opera
ton of the people through the agencies
of States and their various subdivisions
particularly municipalities. AS Hon. J.
NJ. Curry, the agent of the Peabody fund
truthtully asserts: Il am only stating a
truism when say there is not a single
instance i'll all educational history where
there has been anything approximating
universal education unless that educa
ton has been furnished by government"
But if philantLrophy is not equal to the
task, 1t can cooperate efficiently with
public authority and promote the growth
of iutelecsua culture. use these words
i'll the largest sense and would include
training in the industrial arts and the
fine arts. At the present time private
efforts might well take the lead in the
mater of manual training and help to
bring about a time when there shall be
rn such thing as unskiled labor but
when every IN IN shall be well equipped
for some useful occupitlon Then for